Self

Once a person has been transformed by the redemptive power of Christ they are no longer subject the the life of sin that has ruled their lives. The choice of their actions can either be controlled by their flesh (self) or by the Holy Spirit.   Chose to be led by the spirit 

and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. (Galatians 2:20 HCSB)

Godly reminders

God always has a way of reminding us of our place. When we try to take the lead and not rely on him, he gently corrects us through trials, his word, or godly  relationships.  The key is to recognize those corrections and look at ourself and say 'God doesn't change so I must have, but where'. It usually doesn't take long for us to figure it out but we must remember to ask for forgiveness and turn away from it.  

That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:10 NIV)

Bad Company

What is it that is holding you back from fully committing to The Lord. What has a presence in your life that has cause you to not to commit to God's grace. For some it is others or life experience or the fear of giving up control of your life.  But I say that you do not start truly living until you have freedom in your soul from sin.  

Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.” Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God—I say this to your shame. (1 Corinthians 15:33, 34 NIV)

Lessons from Others

Conviction.  It is what happens when we know that we should be doing something that we are not.  It's the tap on the shoulder, the clearing of the throat, the overwhelming feeling that we know without a shadow of a doubt that God had just mentioned our name from the heavens.  He reached down through someone else's thoughts, sayings, or words of wisdom to teach us a lesson.   

My lesson came yesterday while reading a book.  It wasn't that I was doing something but someone else was doing on my behalf that I should be doing for others.   A simple gesture really.  But I ponder, why did I stop....what part of God's grace did I forget.  Or did I think too highly of my own self to forget to do what he presented in the book.  Not matter the reason, I felt it.  The deep remorse of God's grace forgotten. It's almost like a knife in the back, but it wasn't my back...it was Jesus'.   

What was the simple gesture.....to pray for the store clerk, the mechanic, the girl down the street, really to anyone I meet.  Not a public prayer, but a quiet, silent prayer to God.   To make their day better, to guide their thoughts to him, to bless them and to care for them.

A song comes to mind and I encourage you to listen to it as well.   

Heal my heart and make it clean

Open up my eyes to the things unseen

Break my heart for what breaks yours

Everything I am for Your kingdom's cause

Show me how to love like you have loved me. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ajFnnKFivY)

The line, break my heart for what breaks yours, is a reminder that our hearts should break for the same things that breaks the heart of God.  I pray that your own conviction is a lesson learned.

Sundays Blessing

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Colossians 3:12-17 NIV)

Weekend wisdom

God's wisdom is not like mans wisdom. Man can only learned knowledge but God's is infinite. He knows everything about everyone and every creation.   Those that trust in their own wisdom is misguided. But those that trust in God's is destined to be joined in his glory.  Don't rely on knowledge to give you insight on man.  Rely on God to give you insight and he will guide you to the right path

Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise by the standards of this age, you should become “fools” so that you may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness”; (1 Corinthians 3:18, 19 NIV)

Grace

Grace is like a mothers love. She loves her children no matter what they do. If everyone can accept the grace God has given, they would see their own mothers love through their her actions.   

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:1, 2 NIV)

Tricks anyone?

Each new day is a new opportunity   A day to renew our thoughts and fulfill our destiny.  The days that God gives us is one of the many blessings he bestows upon us. 

 A dog is just a dog unless someone teaches and he learns the trick.  Humans are the same way.  We must learn the ways of God through someone who teaches.  And as the scripture below shows, we must be ready to answer.  I hope you have a blessed day.

Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it. (1 Peter 3:15 NLT)

Faithful

Let your light so shine before men that they should know your good works. The meaning of this is simple, men will know the light coming from you is the light of God.  The good works you do is because you love God. Don't let men rob you of your light but be steadfast in your faith.  Continue to seek The Lord through meditation in the word, fellowship with those that are like minded, and through prayer. 

“ ‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. (Acts 2:17-19 NIV)

Love God -Hate sin

Let us not be guilty of the sins that the Lord hates. The love of self, of unrighteousness, lover of money.  God says he hates these things but in the last days there will be a generation of people who do not follow God. 

But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people. They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over gullible women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth. (2 Timothy 3:1-7 NIV)

Graceful Tuesday

Grace is one of the foundations of God's love.  He gives us grace through Jesus Christ his son.  Jesus covers us up with his perfect sinless life so that we may be covered by the grace of God. Make the most of today and remember to witness as necessary to bring more people into God's grace

Monday madness

God is good!!  His blessing flow to the people that obey him. The way to truth is him. Today is the day that The Lord has made. God is righteous and only through his son can we be set free of our sins. Christ died to make us free is and to make us whole. Serving him and his people is the highest form of sacrifice so look for opportunities to spread his message of salvation 

God bless you today and be one with Christ  

Weekend wisdom

Yeah it's the weekend!  However our busy lives we should never forget that we would not have this time if it wasn't for God who gave it. We should take the moments that we are at rest, whether it is right before we put our feet on the floor or many times throughout the day to thank him for what we have in our life, for those who do not have, and for those who seek to harm us.   Remember that God gave you the breath you breathe and the hearts that beat. Lord I pray that we take time today and everyday to remember your word, to ask for forgiveness, and seek your face through your written word and through fellowship with others.  We desire to be one with you and to keep your words In Our hearts.